Data storage mediums

[tombfyre]

Well GE unveiled some prototype work they were chugging away on last year, namely the concept of Holographic data storage. From what I've previously read, the ultimate goal was to create cubes of sort that held data throughout the entire medium, and the reader would have little to no moving parts

Comments

[ravenworks]

Hot diggity! I thought holographic media was still decades away... I still can't quite wrap my head around the idea, even after someone explained it to me, but if it works it works. :D (Of course, who knows how long it'll be before it's practical enough for the mass market, but a working demo is something!)

I think the idea behind disc media vs. solid state is just a question of how much it costs to mass-produce... though, before long, we'll probably be moving to an entirely-download future anyway ;)

[tombfyre]

You'll still need data storage at some point in the process, even if you're getting everything sent to you via download. ^^ The infrastructure of the internet needs to be vastly improved before they could start switching to a download medium only.

[ravenworks]

Yeah, but I mean, in terms of how media will be distributed... I don't see the next step being solid state stuff sitting in movie stores, y'know? Discs will (presumably?) always be cheaper, since there's no chips or anything in them...

[tombfyre]

Aye, that will likely be the case. Until the solid state stuff is replaced by something like a chip. Combine the two techs somehow, and you've got it made. :3

[flamingwars]

That's awesome, I'm surprised that we're already close to such technologies. I know I've heard them mentioning that they were working on it years ago and to think that they're nearly done. Cool stuff!

I just wonder, how will these holographic mediums last as far as day to day durability. Such as scratches, dusts, and such.

Not like I have 500Gigs to back up but I'm sure this would be useful for libraries, hospitals, schools and whatnot. ^^

[tombfyre]

Aye, they're primarily targeting organizations that have a lot of data to archive and whatnot. Just think, a few more tech generations and you'll have an entire library on one disk. :3 As for longevity, the things are supposed to last 50 years or more. I'm not sure how fast a drive would have to spin one of those things, seeing as it would likely get looked at with multiple refracted beams of energy at once.

[zevdawg]

Holographic media will probably be quicker R/W but as you already stated - too late for market.

[tombfyre]

Yep, that's the problem with Moore's Law. Tech is advancing so quickly that by the time they get this to market, there might be something else there already, or coming soon. That's one of the reasons I never bothered jumping into Blu Ray. I knew within a year or two there would be something better. :3

[vrghr]

Wuff thinks the big seller for this might be durability. Hard disks are at best "temporary" storage (for some values of 'temporary'). Even solid state versions are subject to bit errors, degridation, and other faults that can zap your data. Heck, even DVDs and CDs can degrade over years, though I expect no one is going to see much of that for storage measured in under decades intervals

[tombfyre]

No data storage medium will ever contain us. ^..^ We keep expanding and then some! But yar, the estimated 50-year lifespan of data storage on these things will definitely make them attractive to long term storage solutions.

[tombfyre]

Yeppers, it very well could be. :3